Well, interestingly enough there has been renewed interest in this church, formerly located on Bacton Hill Road in East Whiteland Township, Chester County. Yes, I am writing again about Ebenezer AME Church.

Members of this community have been documented as former slaves. Their ability to construct this church demonstrates the prosperity and commitment of this community.

The trustees of the Ebenezer AME church purchased the land in 1831 from James Malin. The oldest gravestones found in the cemetery date from the early 1830’s. The congregation disbanded for a time between 1848 and 1871 during which time the building fell into disrepair. By June 22, 1873 the church had been rebuilt and rededicated. It continued to be used until 1970; then intermittently until the 1940’s. Now it is abandoned.

I will note that when Patch covered this in 2012 they showed a lot more gravestones than I was able to locate in 2013. It is now 2015. The Eagle Scout (Matthew Nehring) put what he found on Find A Grave. On that website it is listed asEbenezer African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery (Also known as: Chester Valley African Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, Valley Hill Cemetery).

On Memorial Day I thought of Joshua Johnson, the Civil War soldier buried there. He is a valid part of our soldiering and military history in this country, yet who remembers him? Does the East Whiteland Historical Society remember him? Does anyone? Does he have any ancestors still living in Chester County who may not know his grave exists?

This church is a definite candidate for a Pennsylvania Historical Marker but in addition wouldn’t it be great to get this site preserved in some way? The graveyard cleaned up and preserved? I think the land is still owned by the AME church, but how to find the records and get them to acknowledge this sacred place escapes me.

This place should MATTER. I have no idea if the National Trust for Historic Places would be interested but they should be. #thisplacematters

East Whiteland has some fascinating history. And if we are not careful, it will all fade away. East Whiteland isn’t just home to business parks along 29 and 202. Between this crumbling church and places like Loch Aerie and Linden Hall, shouldn’t the historical commission be reaching out to national and state wide preservationists?

in the 1990s in the midst of the Churchill rezoning battle, we contacted a professor at Temple who was documenting African American Historical sites…..no reply. During the Churchill hearings it was discovered that a straw company was purchasing historic bldgs along swedesford and conestoga roads. Once Churchill was turned down, they were resold. We were concerned for this Church if Bacton Hill Road was widened…but could not find anyone interested outside of EW. the Chester Co Historical Society in WC may have a grave listing …they had volunteers in the 1930s and 40s documenting graveyards. Believe many graves are unmarked or stones fell over and the woods floor covered them in time. Wish you the best in drawing attention to this Church!